OTTAWA, December 15, 2016 – Senator Ngo today expressed his support for Bill S-226, the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Officials Act (Magnitsky Law.)
This bill, currently before the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, would enable the Government of Canada to establish sanctions against foreign nationals responsible for gross violations of internationally recognized human rights.
With this legislation, foreign officials and individuals responsible for committing unlawful arrests, unjustified detention, cruel torture and murder against human right defenders would be banned from travelling into Canada and prevented from laundering their financial assets in our country. By expanding its existing sanction regime, Canada would stand in solidarity with the protection of universal human rights in a world where massive domestic repression is growing.
Bill S-226 sponsored by my colleague Senator Raynell Andreychuk brings forth the importance of combatting the persistent and pervasive cultures of corruption, criminality and, in particular, impunity against specific individuals.
As a member of this Senate Committee, I strongly believe that by enacting this legislation, Canada can demonstrate that gross violations of recognized human rights will not be tolerated.
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“By expanding our sanctions regime, we are making it clear that we support the protection of human rights around the world. But we are also sending a signal that violating these rights will not go unpunished in Canada.”– Hon. Senator Thanh Hai Ngo